DAUIN, Negros Oriental, Aug. 18 (PIA) – The newly-opened Dauin Mega Public Market is expected to generate at least P10 million income annually which can be utilized for other development projects in the town.

Dauin Mayor Galicano Galic Truita underscored this in a media interview after the opening of the new Mega Market here yesterday.

“Ang starting amount sa bidding (sa mga stall) is P8,000 pero naay nag-bid na P155,000 so naka-income mi og P2 million sa bidding pa lang. Murag dali ra makuha ang Return of Investment (ROI) in one year or less nasa P10 million a year (The starting amount for the bidding of stalls is at P8,000, but there are business owners who bid for P155,000. That alone, the market generated P2 million revenue. I think we can achieve the ROI in one year or less which is pegged at P10 million),” Truita said.

The Mega Market is two-storey building which boasts of modern amenities like an elevator, a water treatment facility,  24-hour CCTV,  power generator, and free Wi-Fi installed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The second floor of the building was made into a hotel with nine rooms classified as executive rooms and dormitory-type rooms.

Executive rooms have an en suite water closet, bathtub, and shower area while dormitory-type rooms have separate shower and toilet rooms.

The hotel is intended for local and foreign tourists visiting Dauin.

There is also a function room located at the second floor for public events and conferences.

Aside from more than a hundred stalls for its tenants, the Mega Market also has 15 office spaces available for rent.

Truita led other local officials in formally opening the Mega Market, which was marked by the simultaneous opening of stall roll-ups.

Representatives from the provincial government, national government agencies, and the private sector also attended the event.

The old public market in Dauin was razed by a fire in 2015.

The construction of the public market started under the administration of former Mayor Neil Credo and was completed under Truita’s administration on July 16, 2023.

The total cost of the construction of the Mega Market is P156,800,0000.

Truita sad the Local Government Unit (LGU) has contributed P26 million for the construction of the project while it also secured funding from other offices, including the Office of Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go which allocated P85 million. 

Go gave a message of commendation to the Municipal Government of Dauin, which was relayed by Negros Oriental Tourism Board Executive Director Woodrow Maquiling Jr.

“This market is not just a symbol of progress. It is a beacon of hope reflecting the hard work and dedication of the people of Dauin. What we see here is more than a place to buy and sell goods. The Dauin Mega Market is a community hub, a nurturing ground for dreams and a creator of opportunities,” Maquiling said. 

Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) President Edward Du also congratulated the Municipal Government of Dauin for this undertaking.

Relative to the installation of the free wi-fi connection of DICT at Dauin Mega Market, Du pushed for the installation of Panleng-QR PH Program which aims to digitalize payments in transactions between vendors and buyers.

“Because of the free wi-fi here, we will be the first public market in Negros Oriental that will implement the Palen-QR. Ang atong mga vendor sa silong pwede na ka mobayad using QR code (You can now pay to our vendors in the first floor using QR codes),” Du said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)